Oak Apple Wasp

The Oak Apple is a gall produced by a Cynipid wasp, Biorhiza pallida. The wasp lays its egg in the developing bud of the oak and then chemicals are produced that make the bud form into the oak apple. The wasp larva lives inside the gall where it may be joined by other interlopers (inquilines) and more threateningly by hyperparasites - wasps whose larvae will eat the Biorhiza pallida larvae. If they get to grow up the Biorhiza pallida wasps  will fly off and lay more eggs. In the summer there are only parthenogenetic females which can lay viable eggs without mating . In the autum and winter males are produced and there is sexual reproduction.

The galls produce tannins which can be used to make ink such as was used for the Magna Carta in 1215.

These oak apples were found at Killicrankie.